In the Midst of Fear

Experiencing the Almighty protection of God came to me during one of the most terrifying situations of my life. I was with my children in a hotel in Florida. I felt like I was in a position of having to trust God blindly. From one day to the next, I didn’t know where the money for our room was going to come from. All I had as my security was a personal promise from God, that we would not be homeless and that His provisional love would support us.

The scariest part of this adventure for me was the fact that we didn’t have a vehicle. Because we didn’t have a vehicle, if I ever didn’t have the money to stay checked into the hotel, I would be forced with my children by foot onto the street. What made the situation even worse, was the level of danger on that street. Imagine the extremes….it was well above 90 degrees every single day with extreme humidity. The heat in itself was unbearable to be exposed to for an extended amount of time.

On top of the weather elements, there were the creatures that shared those streets. The hotel was located on a bayou that was overflowing with alligators. It was not uncommon to see a gator roaming down the dark lit backroads or along the side of the well traveled road. It was also very common to run into venomous snakes. I can remember seeing the wildlife trappers having to wrestle with a large rattlesnake on my walk to buy groceries for our room. As if that wasn’t enough to invite a fear of the outdoors, the insects were enormous and all of us girls were afraid of those large creepy-crawling things. We would always tense up anytime we had to see them running along the ground or up the walls when the sun went down. I also had no one in the world to call at that time for help, except for my Heavenly Father. It felt like it was life or death to believe that He was with me, taking care of every need.

I had every reason to completely panic and freak out in distress. There is no greater fear in my book than a mother needing to protect her children in the midst of danger. It was during this time that the Lord started to calm my fears by ministering to me through the life of Moses. I remember weeping when I read how his mother placed him in a basket and then let him go into the hands of God. The craziest part of that story to me was that she placed him along the side of the river Nile, in the heaviest known place for the crocodiles to hide. I can just picture those hungry crocodiles, in massive amounts, ready to attack to the death with razor-sharp teeth. On top of the dangers of the river, that helpless baby was soon to be in the very hands of an enemy who wanted him dead. My heart beats heavy when I place myself in his mother’s shoes and how difficult that sacrifice of trust must have been. We have to believe that God loves our children even more than we do and that He always knows what is best.

When she could no longer keep him hidden away, she took a basket made of reeds, sealed it with tar and pitch, and placed her baby boy in it. Then she wedged the basket among the reeds along the edge of the Nile River.

Exodus 2:3

In the midst of the deepest danger, was the very place where she experienced the Sovereign protection of God. It was not the absence of danger that kept her baby safe, but just the opposite. In the very territory of the hands of death, that beautiful baby was sheltered by the very Hand of God. To some extent, that is how I felt. Every day the fears would come like a flood, and every day I would have to surrender those fears to God and CHOOSE to trust Him. I had to make a daily choice to believe that He was my Ever-Present Help in a time of need. I had to choose daily to believe that He was watching me, that He was always with me and that He would keep His promises to take care of me. Every single day, I had to make a choice to believe that I was loved. Each day I had to believe that God loved my children and that He would protect them.

I have reached to wherever you are in the farthest corners of earth, and the most hidden places therein. I have called to you and said, “You are my servant. I have chosen you, not thrown you away!”

Isaiah 41:9

During that time, I stayed in a hotel with my children for over 30 days miraculously with no income. My income was my promise from God and that He would use this little blog to be our foundation of support and that we would not be homeless. Not one time during that season did we have to check out or be exposed to the danger of the streets. Not one time during that season did the money that we needed ever run out. In fact, it was just the opposite! Just before it was time to transition again, God sent us a large amount of money to cover the travel needs ahead. God had the most perfect timing and His loving provision for us was truly intentional in every possible way.

As I am remembering this story, I find myself in a similar place all over again. Only this time the weather elements are much different. Instead of being dangerously hot outside, it is bitterly cold and unbearable to me. It would be very dangerous to be exposed to such cold temperatures for an extended amount of time. Although there are not enormous insects or gators roaming, there are other dangers that fill the streets, as this mother looks to protect her children. We are still without a vehicle so those fears are still something that I have to cast over to the Lord. I still have to trust God blindly, as I never know where the money that God promised us is coming from. Yet God has been extremely faithful and so far during this new season, we have not had to check out and face the dangers that lurk outside.

By faith, every day I must make the choice to trust God, as I load all of my worries into His hands. Some days are easier than others and God always understands. Not only do I have to make a choice to trust God with my own life, but I have to trust Him to carry the precious children. His promises to our family are the best security that I could have ever asked for. The grass may wither and fade away with the scorching sun, but His words will always remain. Although people may die and the world may change, Words last forever. The word of God is unbreakable and the best protection there is, even when placed in the midst of danger or among the worst imaginable fears.

My prayer for you today is that no matter what you are facing or what fears may come, that you find rest by laying every trouble into His hand, by choosing to trust. You are sheltered and protected by the most loving and strong Hands. His love for you is so deep and personal. To choose to trust Him by faith is the best move that you can ever make. Nothing can ever take away a real experience of knowing the intentional love of God in the Shelter of the Almighty.

So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, help you. I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.